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First up for Louisville will be Kennesaw State at 11 a.m. This will be the first time these two teams face off in program history. The Cardinals are coming off a strong start to their season with a 6-1 win over in-state rival Eastern Kentucky. Louisville dominated the match, winning all three doubles courts to secure the doubles point. Elena Noguero, Lika Peresypkina, Germany Davis, Allie Gretkowski, and Lillian Mould all came out victorious on their respective singles courts, with Davis’s win clinching the match for the Cardinals.

In their last doubleheader, Kentucky showcased their talent by sweeping both Northern Kentucky and EKU with a 7-0 result against each team. Graduate JJ Mercer and freshman Matt Rankin were standout players, each securing four wins for the Wildcats.

Originally, the Cardinals were set to have a doubleheader against both Lipscomb and EKU. However, due to unfortunate weather conditions, Lipscomb will no longer be able to make the trip.

Head coach Rodrigo da Silva expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “It’s great to start the season with two wins. I’m really proud of the guys and how they competed, especially the freshmen who were playing in their first matches today. Hopefully, we can build on today’s success and continue our momentum into the upcoming matches.”

This season, the Cardinals will play a total of 16 matches at home. The team’s roster is a mix of both experienced players and newcomers. Returning doubles All-American Natan Rodrigues and ranked singles player Etienne Donnet will provide a strong foundation for the team. Will Mayew and Matthew Fung, both ranked in the ITA Singles Top 60, along with Andre’ Steinbach, will also be returning for the Cardinals.

Kentucky began the day by facing off against Northern Kentucky. The team put on an impressive performance, sweeping all matches in straight sets. In the doubles session, the duo of Josh Lapadat and JJ Mercer secured a 6-0 victory over Northern Kentucky’s Santiago Casamayor and Josef Zapletal. Eli Stephenson and Jaden Weekes also contributed to the doubles point win with a 6-2 result on court three. Meanwhile, Taha Baadi and Matt Rankin teamed up for a 6-4 win on court two.

Kentucky is coming off an impressive run, making it to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year in 2023. Over the past two seasons, the team has boasted a 53-13 record. The Wildcats are ranked No. 11 in the preseason, making it the fifth straight year that head coach Cedric Kauffmann’s squad has appeared in the ITA top-25.

The Boone Tennis Center will once again host the ITA Kickoff Weekend, where Kentucky will face Alabama, Nebraska, and Notre Dame on January 26-27. The team that emerges victorious from this tournament will advance to the ITA Division I National Men’s Team Indoor Championships, to be held in February at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.